The
top management of the country’s premier educational institution,
Universiti Malaya, today became the first among all public
universities to sign the pledge of good conduct as required
by the government.

UM’s
vice-chancellor Prof Dr Anuar Zaini said UM is being ‘pro-active’
by signing the pledge before other public institutions of
higher learning although the university’s staff have until
March 1 to do so.

Six
top universities officials, including the vice-chancellor,
signed the pledge in UM’s Perdanasiswa auditorium before a
crowd of 800 staff.

On
Oct 8, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced the requirement
for all civil servants along with teachers, university lecturers
and students to sign a pledge of good conduct.

The
premier said the move was to check the “poisoning of the minds”
in the country’s educational institutions so that students
and academics would stick to their respective roles — students
to gain knowledge and not indulge in anti-government activities
while academics are to discharge their duties professionally.

The
announcement sparked a volley of protests from those affected
by the new ruling, including Cuepacs, the umbrella body to
some 850,000 civil servants and various civil groups.

However,
Cuepacs subsequently accepted the controversial requirement
by the government with the condition that several clauses
in the pledge be amended.

No
place for politics

Speaking
at a press conference later, Anuar explained that being part
and parcel of the civil service, the university staff are
required to be loyal to the King.

“Anybody
who doesn’t want to sign it doesn’t belong to UM,” he said.

On
the involvement of undergraduates in the Indera Kayangan by-election
campaign, the vice-chancellor said students should focus on
their studies instead.

Anuar
stressed that there is no need for politics on campus.“If
you want to be involved in politics, don’t come to university,”
he added.

The
vice-chancellor however refused to comment on whether he had
received a report on the Dewan Tunku Canselor fire.

Anuar
said he wants to forget about the past and focus on the future.

UM
has been in the media limelight following last year’s fire
which gutted the university’s Dewan Tunku Canselor.

Some
Barisan Nasional politicians, including Prime Minister Mahathir,
had alleged that ‘extremist students’ were behind the fire,
following which two student leaders were detained under the
Internal Security Act.

Although
it was reported that the Fire Department has discovered that
the fire was caused by faulty wiring, the government remains
evasive on the matter. The final report on the fire is yet
to be revealed.